American unveils revamped onboard experience with new amenity kits, bedding and more

17.04.2024 - 17:25 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines

American Airlines is gearing up to launch its new Flagship onboard products with a big update to the soft product.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is debuting new amenity kits, bedding and meals Memorial Day weekend. This includes the airline's first-ever rotating selection of amenity kits, sustainability-focused bedding and additional meal choices as part of a new menu rotation.

"We really based this on customer feedback. So we're incredibly customer-focused at American, we're putting the customer at the center of everything we're doing. And in the design of all of these new amenities and bedding program that we're rolling out, it's really based on customer feedback," Raphael Girardoni, American's managing director of customer experience product and design, said in an interview with TPG.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

You'll find all the details below.

American will launch new amenity kits in its first-, business- and premium economy cabins beginning Memorial Day weekend.

The airline will have two different types of kits for travelers: one that's part of its "permanent collection" and another that's offered on a limited-time basis.

The amenity kits will include all the staple amenities that travelers have come to expect from premium cabin pouches, such as a toothbrush, a dental kit, an eye mask and earplugs. The carrier is also partnering with Los Angeles-based beauty retailer Thirteen Lune on the skincare offerings in the amenity kits.

The featured beauty brands will rotate throughout the year, starting with companies such as Joanna Vargas and Relevant.

In addition to the permanent amenity kit, American will also offer limited-edition specialty kits in partnership with Thirteen Lune. The airline isn't sharing the full collection of kits, but it did say that travelers will receive this special limited-time kit for the first few weeks of the summer.

"We're giving our customers fresh and exciting kits throughout the life of the program," Girardoni said.

In anticipation of this announcement, American sent me the new kits. I was impressed by the limited-edition kits, especially the different shapes of the bags. The contents felt a bit basic, especially the scratchy eye mask, but I'm excited to try the new wellness products on future trips.

Over recent years, we've seen two of the largest U.S. carriers, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, introduce new bedding and sleepwear focused on sustainability.

Now, it's American's turn to get on this bandwagon as it eliminates the single-use plastic waste that's typically connected to the distribution of pillows and blankets. American's new premium cabin bedding will be distributed in a reusable zipper